Circle Forum
By Stan Baker
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Category: Education
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Episodes: 216
Description
Leading a school in today’s educational landscape is both rewarding and complex. This podcast equips elementary and secondary school principals with proven strategies to tackle challenges they face daily. Hosts Shelley Steele, Steve Young, and Stan Baker—along with expert guests—explore topics like restorative practices, staff well-being, equity-driven leadership, student absenteeism and navigating complex systemic challenges. Discover actionable advice, inspiring stories, and strategies to transform your school community while maintaining balance in your leadership journey.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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Teaching kids, not just content:Leading schools in the age of AI
|
Mar 02, 2026 |
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Listening to Parents Differently: How Principals Build Trust
|
Feb 23, 2026 |
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We Teach Kids, Not Content: School Leadership at the Post-AI Turning Point
|
Feb 16, 2026 |
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Why Change Doesn’t Stick: What Every School Leader Needs to Know About the Brain
|
Feb 09, 2026 |
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The Power of One Caring Adult: Why Relationships Change Everything
|
Jan 26, 2026 |
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Listening Before Fixing: How Educators Can Navigate Polarization and Difficult Conversations
|
Jan 21, 2026 |
|
From Conflict to Connection: How Principals Can Build Trust with Parents
|
Nov 24, 2025 |
|
Curiosity is the Cure with Trauma-Informed Principals
|
Nov 03, 2025 |
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Stopping to listen: how principals can shift trauma into connection with parents and teachers
|
Oct 27, 2025 |
|
Difficult Conversations with Parents: Listening, Boundaries, Common Ground
|
Oct 06, 2025 |
|
Recognition, Communication, and the Path to Fewer Teacher (and Principal) Stress Leaves
|
Sep 29, 2025 |
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How Principals Can Reduce Stress Leave and Build Trust
|
Sep 15, 2025 |
|
Be Like Grass: Resilience Resilience when angry parent enters principal's office
|
Sep 08, 2025 |
|
“What’s Next, Steve?”From Suspension Data to Finish Lines
|
Aug 27, 2025 |
|
Why That Kid Wasn’t Fighting: Restorative Aha Moments with Steve
|
Jul 02, 2025 |
|
Tiny Actions, Big Trust: Why Teacher Confidence Starts With You, the Principal
|
Jun 23, 2025 |
|
What if teacher observations actually built confidence?
|
Jun 20, 2025 |
|
Staff Conflict Isn’t the Problem — It's the Symptom: Do the adults know their strengths and use them daily?
|
May 19, 2025 |
|
Fix the Adults, Fix the School: Awareness of Adult Strengths as Real Root of Student Success
|
May 12, 2025 |
|
Leading in a school hierarchy when you’re not at the Top
|
May 05, 2025 |
|
AI in the Principal’s Office: Reducing Workload Without Losing the Human Touch
|
Apr 28, 2025 |
|
No Special Training Required: How Any Educator Can Prevent Substance Use
|
Apr 07, 2025 |
|
Connection Over Consequences: Rethinking How Schools Address Substance Use
|
Mar 31, 2025 |
|
Data, Feedback, and Leadership: The Principal’s Playbook
|
Mar 24, 2025 |
|
Why Principals Are Drowning in Responsibilities
|
Mar 17, 2025 |
|
The Role of Principals in Truth and Reconciliation: Bridging the Past and Future
|
Mar 10, 2025 |
|
Making it Right: How principals are the ones to transform school culture
|
Feb 17, 2025 |
|
Two-Eyed Seeing: A Principal's Role in Reconciliation
|
Feb 10, 2025 |
|
From Lonely at the Top to Supported Together: Mental Health for Principals
|
Feb 03, 2025 |
|
Balancing the Burden: Mental Wellness Strategies for Principals
|
Jan 27, 2025 |
|
Tough choices: leading can be isolating for a Principal
|
Jan 20, 2025 |
|
Silencing the Advice Monster: How to lead with questions not answers!
|
Jan 16, 2025 |
|
When Leading Breaks the Leaders: A Call to Action for Principals
|
Jan 06, 2025 |
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When Principalling Means Teaching, Mentoring, and Bus Duty
|
Dec 23, 2024 |
|
Principals are struggling with an impossible balancing act
|
Dec 16, 2024 |
|
Schools as the New Social Hubs Puts Growing Demands on Principals
|
Dec 09, 2024 |
|
“As a new Vice-Principal, I almost quit 10 times in the first 3 months”
|
Nov 25, 2024 |
|
Why the 'Quick No' Could Be Destroying Your Principals
|
Nov 19, 2024 |
|
Spirit Work and Connection: Rethinking Principalling as a Verb
|
Oct 22, 2024 |
|
Disappearing Autonomy: How Principals Navigate Leadership Challenges
|
Oct 22, 2024 |
|
Building Relationships in Indigenous Communities: A Principal’s Guide to Authentic Leadership
|
Oct 17, 2024 |
|
Restorative Practices in Schools supports Indigenous Approaches to Healing and Accountability
|
Oct 17, 2024 |
|
From Territorial Acknowledgment to Action: Indigenous Education as a crucial factor in employability of students
|
Oct 16, 2024 |
|
Leading Beyond the Orange Shirt: The Principal’s Role in True Reconciliation
|
Oct 15, 2024 |
|
Long-Term Impact of Early Literacy and Attendance
|
Sep 23, 2024 |
|
Transforming Parent Engagement with Simple Tactics
|
Sep 16, 2024 |
|
Why Trauma Can Linger in Your School’s Halls
|
Sep 09, 2024 |
|
Still Having to Break Barriers for Women in Education Leadership
|
Sep 03, 2024 |
|
From Land Acknowledgments to Lasting Change: A Principal's Guide to Decolonization and Reconciliation
|
Aug 26, 2024 |
|
From Teacher to Vice Principal: Navigating the Transition:
|
Aug 19, 2024 |
|
Mastering the First Staff Meeting: Tips for New Principals
|
Aug 12, 2024 |
|
Mentorship in schools builds a culture of collaboration and shared leadership
|
Jul 22, 2024 |
|
Shared Leadership in Schools for Equitable Outcomes
|
Jul 15, 2024 |
|
Compassionate Leadership in Schools, what's that about?
|
Jul 08, 2024 |
|
From Conflict to Connection: Reflections on a Vice-Principal’s Guide to Conversations
|
Jun 24, 2024 |
|
Shifting Mindsets for New Principals
|
Jun 20, 2024 |
|
From Cribbage to Classrooms: Engaging Students to Attend School
|
Jun 17, 2024 |
|
Leading with Humility: insights for new school principals that comes from lived experience
|
Jun 10, 2024 |
|
Building Tomorrow’s School Leaders Today: a Principal’s Heartfelt Guide to Mentorship and Shared Leadership
|
Jun 05, 2024 |
|
Courageous Leadership in Principalling: navigating the complexity of school systems Part 2 of 2
|
Jun 04, 2024 |
|
Courageous Leadership in Principalling: navigating the complexity of school systems Part 1 of 2
|
Jun 03, 2024 |
|
What’s the school data to share in order to help the village raise a child who attends school?
|
May 30, 2024 |
|
Breaking Absenteeism: Unveiling the Real Struggles Behind Student Attendance
|
May 27, 2024 |
|
School Attendance: Is It All About the Teacher-Student Connection?
|
May 20, 2024 |
|
Part 2 of 2 Unlocking Attendance: How One School Division is Breaking Down Barriers to Bring Kids Back to School
|
May 14, 2024 |
|
Unlocking Attendance: How One School Division is Breaking Down Barriers to Bring Kids Back to School Part 1 or 2
|
May 13, 2024 |
|
The Ripple Effect of Staff Absenteeism on Student Learning
|
May 06, 2024 |
|
Leading with your own learning: advice for new principals and vice-principals
|
May 01, 2024 |
|
From Teaching to Principaling: Advice for new principals on navigating the journey
|
Apr 30, 2024 |
|
Advice for new Principals on how to build a Collaborative School Community
|
Apr 29, 2024 |
|
Advice for new Ps and VPs: Lead with your Heart: Wisdom from a Circular Leadership Model
|
Apr 22, 2024 |
|
Building Trust and Bridging Communities: A Conversation on Anti-Racism in Schools with VP Dave Johnson
|
Apr 15, 2024 |
|
3 Strategies for Easing Teacher Stress using trauma informed restorative practices
|
Feb 26, 2024 |
|
3 ways to ease stress with Principals and Vice-Principals
|
Feb 12, 2024 |
|
3 ways for school leaders to ease teacher stress
|
Feb 05, 2024 |
|
New 2023 research and a New Theory on Teen Mental Health - activities apart from adults
|
Jan 22, 2024 |
|
Gallup Survey: 4 ways to build staff excitement in school districts
|
Jan 15, 2024 |
|
Top 3 concerns facing school district leaders for 2024
|
Jan 08, 2024 |
|
“No one cared that I attended” said 17.7 percent of secondary school dropouts
|
Dec 18, 2023 |
|
Cultivating Connections: The Power of Trusted Adults in Student Su
|
Dec 12, 2023 |
|
Say what? A restorative conference for Attendance?
|
Dec 11, 2023 |
|
How much can intentional connections to SK - Grade 2 Parents actually impact student attendance?
|
Nov 29, 2023 |
|
Beyond Numbers: The Impact of Restorative Approaches to Student Attendance
|
Nov 27, 2023 |
|
Redefining Impact: Research Unveil the Untapped Potential of Educator Influence with Adults AND Students
|
Nov 20, 2023 |
|
Unveiling the Student Impact: The Story Behind recent Canadian research on Student Attendance
|
Nov 13, 2023 |
|
Navigating Educational Research Implementation: Insights from Attendance Research Project in Northwestern Ontario
|
Nov 06, 2023 |
|
Unveiling Attendance Data Dilemma: A Restorative Roadmap for Recovery
|
Oct 31, 2023 |
|
Shaping our students: Addressing the Silent Crisis of Absenteeism and Student Mental Health
|
Oct 24, 2023 |
|
Unveiling the Shift: Parents Redefine School Attendance Post-COVID!
|
Oct 16, 2023 |
|
Beyond Compliance: Building Connections to Reimagine School Attendance
|
Oct 10, 2023 |
|
From Chaos to Connection: Investing in adolescents through restorative practices
|
Oct 03, 2023 |
|
Vanishing Acts: Unraveling the Mystery of Student Attendance
|
Sep 19, 2023 |
|
Kindergarten Chronicles: Navigating SK Absenteeism in a Post-Pandemic World
|
Sep 11, 2023 |
|
Breaking the Absenteeism Puzzle
|
Sep 05, 2023 |
|
If everything you say is true ,according to you, why can’t we talk anymore?
|
Aug 29, 2023 |
|
Navigating uncertainty: how teacher contracts impact school relationships
|
Aug 24, 2023 |
|
A Stay Interview: hold onto valuable staff
|
Aug 15, 2023 |
|
Belonging, Voice, Agency: Recent research on impact of Restorative Practices
|
Aug 14, 2023 |
|
School is no place for you to sleep! Or is it?
|
Jun 20, 2023 |
|
What’s that you say?
|
Jun 13, 2023 |
|
How can schools get student attendance on to the radar of community agencies?
|
Jun 06, 2023 |
|
How to make proactive changes in the midst of a busy school year
|
May 30, 2023 |
|
What you can do when students face overwhelming problems in their lives?
|
May 23, 2023 |
|
How can I keep conversations about student attendance going year round?
|
May 18, 2023 |
|
How can I include and engage parent voice in my school?
|
May 02, 2023 |
|
How can schools find time for staff to even reflect on which families aren’t connected to the school?
|
Apr 25, 2023 |
|
How can we be firm and fair with parents who are upset?
|
Apr 18, 2023 |
|
How can schools help build protective factors for parents?
|
Apr 11, 2023 |
|
How can I use student attendance data?
|
Apr 04, 2023 |
|
How can I talk with parents about their child’s attendance?
|
Mar 28, 2023 |
|
Have you seen my day? How can I ever find the time to use restorative questions?
|
Mar 21, 2023 |
|
Complex and severe student absenteeism requires a community response, it's not just a school problem!
|
Mar 07, 2023 |
|
Research shows restorative practices has some positive effects reducing suspensions
|
Feb 28, 2023 |
|
Research says social-emotional learning and character development lowered absenteeism by 15% and suspensions by 72%
|
Feb 21, 2023 |
|
Research says understanding the behavioural message of the absentee student can improve attendance
|
Feb 14, 2023 |
|
Research says early weekly alerts to parents increases student attendance in middle and high school
|
Feb 07, 2023 |
|
Research indicates a curriculum connected to students improve achievement and attendance
|
Jan 31, 2023 |
|
Harvard study shows reduced absenteeism by 10% or more with personalized communication with parents
|
Jan 24, 2023 |
|
Attendance improves with Positive Greetings at the Door , a low-cost, high yield strategy
|
Jan 17, 2023 |
|
Research which shows that serving breakfast after the bell can reduce student absenteeism by an average of 6%
|
Jan 10, 2023 |
|
Research says “supportive school climate improves student attendance”
|
Jan 02, 2023 |
|
Start with data when addressing the complexity of student attendance
|
Dec 27, 2022 |
|
School climate impacts student attendance
|
Dec 20, 2022 |
|
Building relationships part of the complex solutions to student absenteeism
|
Dec 13, 2022 |
|
There are many reasons why students miss school or struggle with engagement
|
Dec 06, 2022 |
|
Reflecting on WHY propels purpose and meaning every day
|
Nov 22, 2022 |
|
Being known and knowing others amplifies school safety
|
Nov 15, 2022 |
|
White educators developing listening skills essential to indigenous student attendance
|
Nov 08, 2022 |
|
Opportunities to fail leads learning and enjoyment
|
Nov 01, 2022 |
|
Leverage both ears and propel conversations
|
Oct 25, 2022 |
|
Practically speaking how to share your great ideas
|
Oct 18, 2022 |
|
Surprisingly simple steps reduces staff burnout and demoralization yet increases well-being
|
Oct 11, 2022 |
|
Stop! Look! Listen! Taking the time respects and boosts relationships at YOUR work
|
Oct 04, 2022 |
|
Stressed staff conflict leads to yelling in school
|
Sep 27, 2022 |
|
Incredibly upset parents hijack communication with school leaders
|
Sep 20, 2022 |
|
Close the revolving door on staffing shortages
|
Sep 13, 2022 |
|
Burnout due to unfair treatment at work leaving schools staggeringly short staffed
|
Sep 06, 2022 |
|
Every change in schools requires symmetry for kids and grownups
|
Sep 02, 2022 |
|
Students with special education needs do benefit from daily circles
|
Sep 01, 2022 |
|
First time fears for teacher fall when coached through circle
|
Aug 31, 2022 |
|
Best time to start restorative circles is....well....NOW!
|
Aug 30, 2022 |
|
The circle conversation that went down the toilet, literally
|
Aug 23, 2022 |
|
Students needed help to process the tragic impact caused by car accident
|
Aug 16, 2022 |
|
Students school teacher on changing classroom practices
|
Aug 09, 2022 |
|
How to have critical conversations in large groups
|
Aug 02, 2022 |
|
Rapid dive too deep ruins circle conversation
|
Jul 26, 2022 |
|
3 things you can do to connect with colleagues today
|
Jul 19, 2022 |
|
Uncover extremely valuable responses to harmful words from colleague
|
Jul 12, 2022 |
|
Feuding Families Fuel School Fights
|
Jul 05, 2022 |
|
The WHY of our restorative practices
|
Jun 28, 2022 |
|
Changing lenses to see students with special needs
|
Jun 21, 2022 |
|
Ending the school year well with restorative leadership
|
Jun 14, 2022 |
|
Start classroom circles when needed and keep at it
|
Jun 07, 2022 |
|
Circles give voice to silent students
|
May 31, 2022 |
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Teacher starts with circles in April: Learnings and challenges
|
May 24, 2022 |
|
School structures inhibit community involvement in restorative circles
|
May 17, 2022 |
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“The land on which you stand rightfully belongs to (INSERT NAME OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES)”
|
May 10, 2022 |
|
Black and brown boys describe adults in school as not caring about them
|
May 09, 2022 |
|
"Passing the cup of vulnerability challenges white fragility in circle"
|
Apr 26, 2022 |
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Oppression and restorative practice, are we hiding the ball?
|
Apr 19, 2022 |
|
Pay attention to the silence
|
Apr 12, 2022 |
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"Your silence won't protect you"
|
Apr 05, 2022 |
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Changes to mask mandates are opportunities to build community
|
Mar 29, 2022 |
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Students with special needs engaged with restorative questions
|
Mar 22, 2022 |
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Student belonging in school starts with simple things
|
Mar 15, 2022 |
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New research on pandemic and principal stress
|
Mar 08, 2022 |
|
What to do when a student is always sleeping in class
|
Mar 01, 2022 |
|
Listening to student voice means implementing a change
|
Feb 22, 2022 |
|
Daily circles make a difference in secondary classroom
|
Feb 15, 2022 |
|
When things just aren't going right, ask restorative questions to make the change
|
Feb 08, 2022 |
|
If it's good for the students, it's good for the staff!
|
Feb 01, 2022 |
|
Mind the gap between the vision for indigenous education and its implementation
|
Jan 25, 2022 |
|
Changing the structure of conversations engages parents, even the frustrated ones!
|
Jan 18, 2022 |
|
Good intentions can have a harmful impact so listen first when confronted
|
Jan 11, 2022 |
|
Student engagement: what are the structures that inhibit or enhance in district, school, classroom? Season 3 focus
|
Jan 04, 2022 |
|
3 key predictors of secondary completion apparent in elementary data, Canadian study shows
|
Dec 21, 2021 |
|
Connect the dots on absenteeism and ask what else is going on
|
Dec 14, 2021 |
|
Trusted, caring adult is a protective factor for student attendance
|
Dec 07, 2021 |
|
Build students' engagement and connection by knowing their names and saying "Hi"
|
Nov 30, 2021 |
|
Classroom connections of Treaties of Peace and Friendship, French and Restorative Practices
|
Nov 23, 2021 |
|
Indigenous treaties through the lens of Fair Process
|
Nov 16, 2021 |
|
Students will attend schools that are safe, welcoming and have deeply caring environments - Part 2 of 2
|
Nov 10, 2021 |
|
Why restorative practices won’t work for bullying Part 1 of 2
|
Nov 09, 2021 |
|
Unsettling settlers: a lot to talk about and a lot to undo Part 1
|
Nov 08, 2021 |
|
“If I would have known, I would have…”
|
Nov 02, 2021 |
|
Canadian study shows substantial increase in extreme absenteeism during pandemic
|
Oct 26, 2021 |
|
Unsettling settlers: a lot to talk about and a lot to undo Part 2
|
Oct 21, 2021 |
|
Restorative leadership challenging in the pandemic
|
Oct 12, 2021 |
|
Building connections with students complicated by the pandemic
|
Oct 05, 2021 |
|
How restorative practices helped student attendance
|
Sep 28, 2021 |
|
Challenging power dynamics in restorative practices
|
Sep 21, 2021 |
|
Daily circles improved student attendance for students with special needs
|
Sep 16, 2021 |
|
Use circles to make space for BIPOC students’ voices
|
Sep 14, 2021 |
|
Season 1 Finale: Marginalized students’ attendance rates dropping in the pandemic
|
Aug 31, 2021 |
|
BIPOC students don’t receive informal mentoring at school
|
Aug 24, 2021 |
|
Gallup finds the silver bullet: Coach me once per week
|
Aug 17, 2021 |
|
Practical tips for a restorative classroom
|
Aug 10, 2021 |
|
Snowballs and cupcakes: problems and solutions
|
Aug 03, 2021 |
|
Three settlers having a conversation about reconciliation and Indigenous Peoples
|
Jul 27, 2021 |
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Dealing with teacher to teacher conflict and Talking about Apologies
|
Jul 20, 2021 |
|
Re-engaging Students and Staff in September
|
Jul 13, 2021 |
|
Fair Process and the WHY question
|
Jul 06, 2021 |
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"You're just letting them get away with it!"
|
Jul 02, 2021 |
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Leading from heart and soul
|
Jun 22, 2021 |
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Investing in relationships pays dividends
|
Jun 15, 2021 |
|
"My teacher doesn't like me, that's why!"
|
Jun 08, 2021 |
|
Stay curious without judging
|
Jun 01, 2021 |
|
Responding when someone pushes your hot button
|
May 25, 2021 |
|
Think time for students with special needs
|
May 18, 2021 |
|
Power imbalances and circles
|
May 18, 2021 |
|
Relationships with parents are a vital part of a whole school approach
|
May 11, 2021 |
|
It takes time and timing with students in conflict
|
May 11, 2021 |
|
The pandemic has taught schools the value of investing in relationships
|
May 10, 2021 |
|
Students with challenging behaviours benefit from circles
|
May 10, 2021 |
|
Relationships matter in remote instruction when cameras are off
|
May 10, 2021 |
|
Giving voice to marginalized students at school
|
Apr 30, 2021 |